The government department in charge of a country's navy and sea forces, or the authority that controls naval matters.
From Old French 'amiral' (commander), derived from Arabic 'amir' (chief/commander). The -ty suffix makes it an abstract noun referring to the office or authority. Became associated with British naval power during the age of exploration.
The British Admiralty controlled the seas for centuries and literally shaped the modern world—its power was so massive that 'ruling the waves' became a national identity!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.